Hitch mounted bicycle racks for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A compact carrier apparatus includes one or more bicycle carriers. Each carrier includes wheel support sections configured to engage front and rear bicycle wheels, and a stabilizing arm with a gripping member configured to grip one of the wheels. A wheel support section includes a wheel engagement member disposed on an outer edge of the carrier support structure and oriented so that an engaged wheel projects beyond the outer edge. A bracing arm may selectively extend in a cantilevered fashion relative to the support structure to provide an additional load-bearing support point for such a wheel. The stabilizing arm may be mounted to the support structure at a location rearward of a wheel engagement member, and pivotable to a carrying position to grip the wheel. The path of the stabilizing arm, in the carrying position, traverses the center of the wheel and avoids passing over the fork or the brakes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 12/217,767 filed Jul. 7,2008 which is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 fromU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/958,520 filed on Jul. 6,2007 and is entitled “Hitch Mounted Bicycle Racks for Vehicles.” Thecomplete disclosure of the above-identified patent application is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

This application also incorporates by reference in its entirety for allpurposes U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/111,301 filed on Apr. 20,2005.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is related to bicycle mounts. More specifically,the present disclosure is directed to bicycle racks for vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Generally, bicycles may be attached to a vehicle rack structure by meansof the bicycle frame, wheels, or a combination thereof. Frame attachmentmay be secure, but the rigidity of a bicycle frame may result in thetransfer of potentially damaging forces from the vehicle to the bicycle,for example while driving the vehicle. As a result, the frame may bestructurally damaged or misaligned. In addition, points of engagement onthe frame may become cosmetically damaged, such as by being dented orscratched. Bicycle tires have an inherent shock-absorbing ability, whichmay reduce the effect of sudden vehicle motions on a bicycle attached toa rack via one or more wheels.

Vehicle rack structures for attachment to the rear of a vehiclegenerally incorporate components to receive the front and rear wheels ofa bicycle, which generally engage the bottom and/or outer curve of thewheels. As such, the racks of this configuration are typically as longas the bicycle itself, requiring a long and often heavy structure foreach bicycle. Additionally, even if such racks are designed toaccommodate bicycles of different frame configurations and/or sizes,such as by means of adjustable wheel engaging components and/orstabilizing members that attach to the frame or wheels, vehicle rackstructures are generally required to be designed to accommodate thelargest of a range of bicycle sizes, resulting in excess structure andbulkiness when the rack is used with smaller-sized bicycles.

SUMMARY

A compact carrier apparatus that includes one or more bicycle carriersis provided, each carrier including first and second wheel supportsections configured to engage and support the front and rear bicyclewheels, respectively, and a stabilizing arm that includes a grippingmember configured to grip one of the wheels, usually the front wheel. Atleast one of the wheel support sections includes a wheel engagementmember disposed on an outer edge of the carrier support structure andoriented relative to the carrier so that an engaged wheel projectsbeyond the outer edge. Some embodiments further include a bracing armmounted to the support structure and selectively moveable to extendoutward in a cantilevered fashion relative to the support structure toprovide an additional load-bearing support point for a bicycle wheelengaged in such a wheel engagement member. In some embodiments, thestabilizing arm is pivotably mounted to the carrier support structure ata location rearward of such a wheel engagement member, and selectivelymoveable to a carrying position in which the stabilizing arm extendsacross the diameter of a held wheel to grip the wheel. In suchembodiments, the longitudinal profile of the stabilizing arm isconfigured such that the path of the arm, in the carrying position,traverses the center of the wheel and avoids passing over the fork orthe brakes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a carrier apparatusconstructed according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view showing components of a single carrier, andassociated carrier support structure, of the carrier apparatus of FIG. 1in a carrying position.

FIG. 3 is another elevation view of the carrier apparatus of FIG. 1,showing an illustrative range of motion of a wheel engagement member.

FIG. 4 is another elevation view of the carrier apparatus of FIG. 1,showing an illustrative range of motion of the stabilizing arm.

FIG. 5 is another elevation view of the carrier apparatus of FIG. 1,showing an illustrative range of motion of the bracing arm.

FIG. 6 is another elevation view of the carrier apparatus of FIG. 1,showing components of a single carrier in a stowed position.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the carrier apparatus of FIG. 1, withcomponents of a carrier shown engaging a larger bicycle tire.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the carrier apparatus of FIG. 1, withcomponents of a carrier shown engaging a smaller bicycle tire.

FIG. 9 compares two elevation views of the carrier apparatus of FIG. 1,with components of the carrier shown engaging bicycles having twodifferent sizes.

FIGS. 10-13 are perspective views of alternative carrier apparatusembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a compact carrier apparatus for carryingone or more bicycles on the rear of a vehicle, each bicycle carrier ofthe apparatus including first and second wheel support sections forengaging and supporting the front and rear bicycle wheels, and astabilizing arm that includes a gripping member configured to grip oneof the wheels, usually the front wheel.

One or both wheel support sections may include a wheel engagement membermounted on an external edge of a component carrier support structure,such as on one end of a transverse cross member, and oriented outwardrelative to the carrier such that a wheel received in the memberprojects beyond the edge of the structure. Such a wheel engagementmember may provide a load-bearing support point for a bicycle wheel.

Some embodiments further include a bracing arm mounted to the carriersupport structure and configured to selectively pivot, or otherwisemove, between a carrying position, in which the bracing arm extends in acantilevered relation to the support structure, and a stowed position,in which the bracing arm may be folded generally against the supportstructure. In the carrying position, the bracing arm cooperates with awheel engagement member to provide an additional load-bearing supportpoint, typically spaced away from the wheel engagement member on thebottom half of a wheel received in the wheel engagement member. In suchembodiments, the stabilizing arm may also cooperate with the wheelengagement member and the bracing arm to selectively grip the capturedwheel at a wheel location on the upper half of the wheel or otherwisebetween the wheel locations engaged by the wheel engagement member andthe bracing arm. Such a configuration provides three positions ofengagement, two on the bottom half and one on the top half of the wheel,generally forming a triangle surrounding the wheel center.

In some embodiments, the stabilizing arm is coupled to the carriersupport structure behind, or rearward of, a wheel engagement memberpositioned on the edge of the carrier support structure, such that thestabilizing arm may extend outward from the carrier support structure togrip a wheel engaged in the engagement member. The stabilizing arm insuch embodiments is pivotable between this position, which may also bereferred to as a carrying position, and a stowed position in which itmay be folded generally against the support structure. In someembodiments, the pivot axis of the stabilizing arm may be coaxial withthe pivot axis of the bracing arm, and both arms may be locked into acarrying position to hold the wheel.

When held on the carrier apparatus, a wheel, usually the front wheel,projects outward beyond the edge of the carrier support structure, suchthat the wheel center, or hub, is horizontally disposed beyond thelongitudinal width of the support structure, and vertically disposedabove the longitudinal axis of the support structure (such as that of atransverse cross beam). In some embodiments, the stabilizing arm has abent configuration so that the path defined by the arm, when placed intoa carrying position, extends outward from the carrier support structureand bends generally at an angle so that an upper portion of the armtraverses the center of the held wheel, and grips the wheel at alocation on the upper half of the wheel. Such a configuration may allowthe arm to avoid contacting the bicycle fork or brakes when engaged withthe wheel. Further, the gripping member may be selectively moved alongthe length of the arm, to accommodate a variety of bicycle wheel sizeswhile avoiding contact with the bicycle fork, brakes, or other parts ofthe bicycle frame.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a carrier apparatus 10 constructed inaccordance with this disclosure. Carrier apparatus 10 includes a carriersupport structure, generally designated at 20, which is shown to includea central support member 22 and a pair of cross members 24. Carrierapparatus 10 may be mounted to a vehicle 200, for example at a vehiclehitch 202, via a suitable mounting assembly 26. As shown, mountingassembly 26 projects rearward from the vehicle hitch 202 and then bendsupward, such as to provide a desired degree of ground clearance. Acarrier support pivoting assembly 28 is shown to be disposed on an upperportion of the mounting assembly 26 and, is configured to allow carrierapparatus 10 to be selectively moved from an operative extendedposition, as shown, to an inoperative folded position in which centralsupport member 22 is positioned in an upright orientation. However, anysatisfactory manner of mounting mechanism(s) may be employed.

Mounted and positioned as shown, central support member 22 extendsgenerally rearward of mounting assembly 26, and vehicle 200. Crossmembers 24 are mounted to central support member 22 by any suitablemeans, such as via brace assemblies 30. As shown, cross members 24 aremounted to a lower surface of central support member 22 and extendtransversely relative thereto.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, each cross member is configuredto support a bicycle in a manner explained in detail below, and includesstructure collectively referred to herein as a carrier, designatedgenerally at 40. Each carrier is configured to support one bicycle, andas such, the carrier apparatus 10 of the illustrated embodiment is thusadapted to carry two bicycles, generally in a spaced-apart, opposedrelation to each other, with each bicycle oriented roughly parallel tothe rear of the vehicle. However, it is within the scope of thisdisclosure that a carrier apparatus may be adapted to include any numberof carriers, e.g., one, two, three, four, or any other desired number,and in any desired relative configuration. Further, although carrierapparatus 10 is shown to include carrier support structure 20 in theform of a central support member 22 and two transversely mounted crossmembers 24, it is within the scope of this disclosure that any desiredstructural configuration may be incorporated, including, for example, aU-shaped or bifurcated support structure, a generally hoop-shaped orrectangular support structure, or any support structure suitable forsupporting one or more carriers 40 relative to a vehicle 200.

Generally speaking, and as can also be seen in FIG. 2, each carrier 40includes a front portion 42 defined by a front edge 44, and a rearportion 46 defined by a rear edge 48. The front and rear portions areshown in the illustrated embodiment as the opposing end portions of across member 24, with the front and rear edges corresponding to the endsof the cross member, but these terms are used herein merely forconvenience and do not require the illustrated configuration.

Carrier 40 includes a first wheel support section 50 configured tosupport a first bicycle wheel, usually a front wheel, and a second wheelsupport section 52 configured to support a second bicycle wheel, usuallya rear wheel. First wheel support section 50 further includes a firstwheel engagement member 60 mounted to the cross member 24 at one end(shown as the front edge 44 of front portion 42), and second wheelsupport section 60 further includes a second wheel engagement member 62mounted to the cross member near the opposite end. The wheel engagementmembers may have any suitable configuration adapted to hold a peripheralportion of a bicycle wheel, usually by contact with the tire portion ofthe wheel. As shown, the wheel engagement members are separatecomponents mounted to the framework of carrier apparatus 10, but otherembodiments may include wheel engagement members that are integral with,or even recessed into, the carrier support structure. For example, crossmember 24 may have concave cross-section throughout portions of itslength, a configuration sometimes referred to as a “tray.” As shown,wheel engagement members 60, 62 are shown to provide a concave innersurface that is at least partially complementary to a perimetricaltransverse section of the wheel. More particularly, the inner portion ofeach wheel engagement member includes an arcuate configuration with aradius suitable to accommodate a bicycle tire. Other configurations maybe suitable, such as an angular surface, an irregular or variegatedsurface, and so forth.

The wheel engagement members may have a fixed position relative to thecarrier support structure, or may have an adjustable position. Forexample, wheel engagement members 60, 62 are both fixed longitudinallyrelative to the cross member. Moreover, first wheel engagement member 60is also fixed in orientation: the wheel engagement member is orientedoutward relative to the frame such that, as described below and as canbe seen, for example, in FIGS. 7-9, a wheel 210 held in engagementmember 60 projects beyond the front edge 44 of the carrier supportstructure 20 such that the center of the wheel is horizontally disposedbeyond a predetermined longitudinal dimension, such as the width definedby the front and rear edges, of the support structure.

In contrast, second wheel engagement member 62 is configured to rock, orpivot, in a limited range of motion about an axis 400 (shown in FIG. 1),as indicated by arrow 402 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), such as between theillustrative positions shown in solid and dashed lines in FIG. 3. Bypivoting, engagement member 62 cooperates with components of the firstwheel support section to allow the carrier to be used with a wide rangeof bicycle sizes and styles, as explained below and as can be seen, forexample, in FIG. 9.

One or both wheel engagement members may optionally include wheelretention components, such as to secure the held portion of the wheelagainst the engagement member for stability during transport and/orloading, security against theft, and so forth. For example, wheelengagement member 62 is shown to include a strap and latch arrangement,but any suitable structure may be used.

In addition to wheel engagement member 60, first wheel support section50 also includes a bracing arm 64 mounted to carrier support structure20 at a point 70, which is located rearward of the first wheelengagement member 60 on cross member 24. Carrier 40 also includes astabilizing arm 66 mounted at point 70. In the illustrated embodiment,point 70 defines a common pivot axis 404 (shown in FIG. 1) for botharms, but alternative embodiments may include parallel, or otherwiseseparate, pivot axes for the arms, or may include any suitablelinkage(s) to provide movement of one or both arms relative to thecarrier support structure 20 and/or to each other. In the illustratedembodiment, arms 64, 66 cooperate with first wheel engagement member 60to securely hold a wheel of a bicycle and thereby carry a bicycle oncarrier 40.

Arms 64, 66 may have any suitable structure. As shown in FIG. 1, bracingarm 64 has an extended arch-like structure, also referred to as a hoop,that has a distal portion (or arch portion) 72 that has a shaped innersurface which, like the inner portions of the wheel engagement members60, 62, may be configured to engage a peripheral portion of a bicyclewheel. The bracing arm 64 is also configured to provide clearance oneither side of a wheel engaged in the arched portion so that the archedportion is the only part of the arm that contacts the bicycle. As such,the length of bracing arm 64, or more particularly the distance betweenfirst wheel engagement member 60 and the arched portion 72 of thebracing arm, may be selected to space the engagement member 60 andarched portion 72 close enough together so that a small wheel will beengaged by both components, while simultaneously being spaced far enoughapart to provide two separate load-bearing support points on the bottomhalf of a held wheel.

More particularly, and as shown in FIG. 2, bracing arm 64 may beselectively pivoted to extend generally outward from the mounting point70 in a cantilevered relation relative to carrier support structure 20.In such a position, which may be referred to as a carrying position, thefirst wheel engagement member 60 may provide a first load-bearingsupport point for a bicycle wheel, such as by engaging an interior(i.e., near the other wheel) bottom quarter of the wheel, and the archedportion 72 of bracing arm 64 may provide a second load-bearing supportpoint for the wheel, such as by engaging an exterior (i.e., distal theother wheel) bottom quarter of the wheel. The first wheel supportsection 50 thereby provides two load-bearing support points forsupporting a wheel of the bicycle in spaced relation and at two wheellocations on the bottom half of the wheel.

The configuration of stabilizing arm 66 is shown as an extended rodhaving a generally hook-shaped gripping member 74 near the distal end.Gripping member 74 is selectively moveable along a length of the arm,and is configured to be selectively positioned to secure a bicycle onthe carrier. Somewhat similar to the bracing arm 64, the stabilizing armmay otherwise be configured to have sufficient clearance from thesecured wheel so that the gripping member 74 is the only part of the armthat contacts the bicycle.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping member has two degrees offreedom; first, the gripping member can move in an arc as thestabilizing arm pivots (as indicated by arrow 406 in FIG. 2). Second,the gripping member can be moved along the length of the arm (asindicated by arrow 408 in FIG. 2) so that it can hold a bicycle down,thus allowing the gripping member to accommodate differently-sized tiresof a carried bicycle. More particularly, and as also shown in, forexample, FIGS. 7-9 and as described in greater detail below, thestabilizing arm may be selectively pivoted to extend generally acrossthe diameter of a wheel held in the first wheel engagement member sothat the gripping member may grip the wheel at a location on the upperhalf of the wheel. In the illustrated embodiment, the stabilizing arm isconfigured so that the gripping member engages a location on the wheelthat is generally between the two load-bearing support points providedby first wheel engagement member 60 and arched portion 72 of bracing arm66.

Once the stabilizing arm has been positioned, for example to hold adesired part of a wheel, the gripping member may be fixed in place bybeing moved along the length of the arm to grip the wheel. In someembodiments, the gripping member can be biased towards a relativelyshortened effective length so that the gripping portion automaticallycinches down on the desired wheel location. In some embodiments, theeffective length can be selected from a continuous range of possibleeffective lengths, or a discrete set of preselected effective lengths.As one example, the gripping member may interface with the arm via aratcheting mechanism that allows the gripping member to selectively moverelative to the arm, but also allows the gripping member to be locked ata desired effective length.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, both of arms 64, 66 are longitudinallycurvilinear. In particular, bracing arm 64 is shown to have a shallow“S”-like profile, whereas stabilizing arm is shown to include a straightlower portion 76 that extends generally outward from the carrier supportstructure from the mounting point 70, a straight upper portion 78 thatcarries the gripping member 74, and a bent portion 80. The geometry ofthe arms, and the collective configuration of the arms and the firstwheel engagement member, is explained in greater detail below.

Carrier 40, and more particularly various components thereof, may beconfigured to provide distinct orientations, such as one or morereceiving or carrying positions, and a stowed position. In theillustrated embodiment, the stowed (or storage) position places botharms 64, 66 in a position folded against carrier support structure 20,or in what may be described as a generally horizontal position, such asthat shown in FIG. 6. Further, the carrier apparatus itself may then beplaced in an inoperative or stowed position by pivoting the centralsupport member 22 into an upright position, such that the angle betweenthe carrier support structure and the back of the vehicle is minimized.A stowed position may thus be suitable for carrying carrier apparatus 10on a vehicle 200 without a bicycle, or for storage of the carrierapparatus when not in use. The one or more carrying positions, anexample of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, place central support memberextending rearward from a vehicle to which the carrier apparatus ismounted, with arms 64, 66 pivoted away from, and extending beyond thefront edge of, carrier support structure 20. In the carryingposition(s), the distal portions of the arms are spaced away from eachother to cooperate with the first wheel engagement member to providethree points of engagement with a bicycle wheel. The loading positionplaces the stabilizing arm at an angular distance from carrier supportstructure sufficient to provide clearance of a bicycle and facilitateits loading onto carrier 40.

Some embodiments may include suitable structure to selectively retainthe various components of carrier 40, and/or carrier apparatus 10, inany one or more of such positions. For example, one or both of arms 64,66 may be provided with a biased pin or similar structure located on thepivot axis, which may align with one or more internal apertures ordetents corresponding to the relative pivot positions of the arms in thestowed and carrying positions. Optionally, some embodiments may includepermanent or selectively actuable stopping members that may function tolimit or otherwise define the range of pivoting motion of one or botharms relative to the carrier support structure and/or each other.Optionally, one or both arms may be biased toward one or more of thestowed, carrying, loading or other positions.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show illustrative positions, and ranges of motion, foreach of arms 66 and 64, respectively. More particularly, FIG. 4 shows acarrying position of stabilizing arm 66 in solid lines, and also shows astowed position (which can also be seen in FIG. 6) in dashed lines. FIG.4 also shows, in dashed lines, stabilizing arm 66 in what may be thoughtof as a loading position, in which the arm is pivoted to extendgenerally below a longitudinal axis of the cross member 24. Stabilizingarm 66 may be pivoted among the various positions as indicated by arrow404. FIG. 5 shows a carrying position of bracing arm 64 in solid lines,and also shows a stowed position (which can also be seen in FIG. 6) indashed lines. FIG. 5 also shows, in dashed lines, bracing arm 64 in asecond illustrative carrying position. Bracing arm 64 may be pivotedamong the various positions as indicated by arrow 406. Some embodimentsmay include greater or lesser ranges of motion, which may correspond toor include more or fewer distinct positions of the illustratedcomponents, than those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As mentioned above, FIG. 6 shows arms 64, 66 in a stowed position forcarrier 40. The longitudinal profile of arms 64 and 66 are at leastpartially complementary to the configuration of the cross member 24 andsupport beam 22, which allows the arms to clear the central support beamwhen pivoted to the stowed position. In other words, the “S”-likeprofile of bracing arm 64 and the bent portion 80 of the stabilizing arm66 clear the vertical dimension of the cross member 24 to fold generallyagainst the support beam 22. The complementary configurations of arms64, 66 thus may reduce the overall vertical dimension of the carrier inthe stowed position. This reduced vertical dimension in the stowedposition may in turn reduce the required rearward clearance from thevehicle to which the carrier apparatus is mounted, when the carrierapparatus is folded to its stowed position, the required storage spacewhen the apparatus is stored or shipped, and so forth.

In the carrying position(s), the bent path defined by stabilizing arm 66may allow the arm to stabilize a bicycle without contacting or evenpassing over components of the bicycle frame, such as sensitivecomponents such as the fork, the brakes, and so forth. Moreparticularly, the stabilizing arm is configured to traverse the hub of aheld wheel, thereby avoiding the fork, brakes, and other potentiallysensitive components of the bike frame that might be easily damaged ifmotions from driving the vehicle cause the carrier to contact suchcomponents. Additionally, in cooperation with the first wheel engagementassembly, which outwardly orients an engaged wheel so that the wheelprojects beyond the edge of the carrier support structure, the bentprofile of stabilizing arm 66 provides a carrier of compact design,i.e., a carrier that does not span the width of a vehicle, or even thewheelbase of most bicycles.

For example, FIGS. 7 and 8 show different sizes a front bicycle wheel210 engaged in the first wheel support section 50 and stabilized withstabilizing arm 66. In the carrying position(s), bicycle wheel 210 isheld in, or against, the first wheel engagement member 60. Member 60engages a wheel location on the interior quarter of the wheel, and thewheel projects generally outward from the first wheel engagement memberso that the wheel center, or hub portion, 212 is horizontally disposedbeyond the width or longitudinal dimension of the support structure. Inthe carrying position, the angle at which bent portion 80 of stabilizingarm 66 couples the lower and upper portions orients the upper portion sothat the path defined by the upper portion traverses the center 212 ofwheel 210. As can be seen from comparing FIGS. 7 and 8, different sizesof bicycle wheel 210 may be accommodated by adjusting the position ofthe gripping member 74 along the upper portion 78 of the stabilizingarm. As mentioned above, some embodiments may include one or morecomponents, such as arms 64 and 66, which may be moveable and/orselectively retainable among a range of carrying positions, toaccommodate different sizes of bicycle wheel 210. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, bracing arm 64 is positioned so that the distalend of the arm is closer to the distal end of stabilizing arm 66 whenholding a smaller bicycle wheel. Other embodiments may be configured toaccommodate different wheel diameters with a single carrying position.

Although not always the case, different bicycle wheel diameters usuallycorrespond to different bicycle frame sizes and/or styles. For example,adult bicycles not only generally include wheels of larger diametersthan children's bicycles, but the frames are also generally larger,and/or the wheelbase of an adult bicycle is typically larger than thatof a child's bicycle. FIG. 9 illustrates how carrier 40 carries bicycleshaving different sizes, by illustrating shows how second wheelengagement member 62 cooperates with first wheel support section 50 andstabilizing arm 66 to accommodate differently-sized bicycle framesand/or bicycles of differing wheelbases.

In FIG. 9, lines 412 indicate a longitudinal dimension of carriersupport structure 20; specifically, lines 412 indicate the distancebetween pivot point 70 and the pivot axis of second wheel engagementmember 62. The illustrated longitudinal dimension is for reference only,so that the relative positions of differently-sized bicycles on thecarrier may be compared. Carrier 40, as shown in both illustrations ofFIG. 9, carries a bicycle 214 having a first wheel 210 (shown as a frontwheel) held at three points of engagement, in the manner explainedabove, provided by first wheel engagement member 60, arched portion 72of bracing arm 64, and gripping member 74 of stabilizing arm 66. Bicycle214 also includes a second wheel 216 (shown as a rear wheel) held insecond wheel engagement member 62 and secured via the strap and latcharrangement of the engagement member. The bicycle in the upperillustration is larger than, and has a larger wheelbase compared to, thebicycle in the lower illustration. As such, the upper illustratedbicycle may represent an adult-sized bicycle, whereas the lowerillustrated bicycle may represent a child's bicycle. With both bicycles,however, the different wheelbase is accommodated by means of the secondwheel engagement member 62, which pivots to receive a portion of therear bicycle wheel 216. The degree to which the second wheel engagementmember 62 pivots, in the illustrated embodiment, is determined primarilyby the wheelbase of the bicycle and the degree to which the front wheelprojects beyond the edge of the carrier support structure when engagedby first wheel engagement member 60. Other embodiments may thus beconfigured to accommodate a desired range of bicycle wheel sizes,frames, and wheelbases. As mentioned above, other embodiments mayinclude a configuration of wheel engagement members different than thoseshown in the illustrated embodiment. For example, a second wheelengagement member may additionally or alternatively have a slidablymounted configuration, such as for movement along the carrier supportstructure.

FIGS. 10-13 show modified bicycle carrier examples. In FIG. 10, bicyclecarrier 300 includes U-shaped support arm 302 for supporting extrudedaluminum beams with molded plastic trays to locate bicycle wheels.Pivoting arm 306 rotates around U-shaped support arm 302 to secure abicycle on beam 304 in conjunction with wheel strap 308.

As shown in FIG. 11, bicycle carrier 400 uses single support 402 fromthe hitch to support two short beams or cross members 404 with onepivoting taco 406 and one fixed taco 408. Indexing swing arm 410 holdsthe front tire in place against fixed taco 408, and strap 412 holds therear tire down to rear taco 406.

As shown in FIG. 12, bicycle carrier 500 includes hoop-shaped supportstructure 502 with front and rear wheel trays 504 and 506 mounted to thehoop. Rear wheel tray 506 pivots around the hoop 502. Front wheel tray504 pivots for folding during storage and locks to hoop 502 whensupporting the bicycle wheel. Wheel support arm 508 pivots on hoop 502.

As shown in FIG. 13, bicycle carrier 600 includes single central spine602 to support cross members 604 and 606 that in turn support pivotinghoops 608, 610, and rear tacos 612, 614 with appropriate retainingstraps.

Assuming that a carrier is initially in a stowed position (such as shownin FIG. 6), bicycle loading may thus be accomplished by first pivotingthe bracing arm 64 to a carrying position in which the bracing arm iscantilevered generally outward from the carrier support structure. Thestabilizing arm 66 may be pivoted generally outward from the carriersupport structure to a “loading” position, such as the position in FIG.4 in which the stabilizing arm is swung beyond the angular distance ofthe bracing arm, or to any suitable position that provides sufficientclearance so that a bicycle wheel may be positioned in the first wheelsupport section 50. A bicycle is then loaded to the carrier by placingthe front wheel against the two load-bearing support points provided bythe first wheel support section 50. As the wheel is engaged in thesupport section, the angle of the first wheel engagement member 60guides the wheel to engage the arched portion 72 of the bracing arm. Therear wheel then engages the second wheel engagement member 62 of secondwheel support section 52, which pivots to accommodate the position ofthe wheel regardless of the wheelbase of the bicycle. Stabilizing arm 66may then be pivoted from the loading position to the carrying position,in which the upper portion of the arm passes over the hub portion of thefront wheel and the gripping member is positioned to engage a thirdwheel location on the upper half of the wheel and generally between thewheel locations engaged by the two load-bearing support points providedby the first wheel support section 50. The gripping member may then bemoved to grip the third wheel location and fixed in place, securing thebicycle wheel against carrier 40. The wheel retention components maythen be used to secure the wheel engaged in second wheel support section52.

Embodiments of the carrier apparatus may include one or more additionalsecurity mechanisms, such as looped cables, elastic members, and soforth. Stabilizing arm 66 may itself function as a passive securitymechanism for bicycles that include a quick-release assembly, such as alever, on the hub section of a wheel engaged in the first wheel supportsection 50. The upper portion of stabilizing arm 66 traverses the hub ofa held wheel, which may prevent a quick-release assembly from beingaccessed or properly manipulated, in turn preventing disengagement ofthe wheel from the bicycle frame.

The specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated herein are notintended, nor should be considered, to limit the scope of the inventionas understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Numerousvariations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention recited in the appended claims. The subject matter of theinvention includes all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements,concepts, components, features, functions, and/or properties disclosedherein.

1. A carrier apparatus for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle, comprising:a carrier support structure having a first end portion, a middleportion, and a second end portion; a first wheel support section coupledto the first end portion of the carrier support structure, the firstwheel support section including: a wheel engagement member mounted onthe carrier support structure and configured to engage the first wheelat a first wheel location, thereby providing a first support point forthe wheel; and a bracing arm pivotally attached to the first end portionof the carrier support structure independent from the wheel engagementmember configured to selectively move, relative to the carrier supportstructure, between a stowed position and a carrying position in whichthe bracing arm is adapted to engage the first wheel at a second wheellocation, thereby providing a second support point for the wheel,wherein the first and second support points are configured to support awheel so that a central point of the wheel extends beyond the first endportion of the carrier support structure when the bracing arm is in thecarrying position; a second wheel support section coupled to the secondend portion of the carrier support structure and configured to engage asecond wheel of the bicycle; and a stabilizing arm coupled to thecarrier support structure and including a gripping member configured toselectively grip the first wheel at a third wheel location when thewheel is engaged with the first wheel engagement section, wherein adistal end of the bracing arm is pivotable between the stowed positionin which the distal end is directed toward the second wheel supportsection, and the carrying position in which the distal end is directedin an opposite direction from its orientation in the stowed position. 2.The carrier apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end is proximatethe second wheel support section in the stowed position.
 3. The carrierapparatus of claim 2, wherein the distal end is proximate the secondwheel engagement member in the stowed position.
 4. A bicycle rackcomprising a beam having a first end potion and a second end portion,and a central longitudinal axis extending from the first end portion tothe second end potion, and a first arm and a second arm, each arm beingpivotally mounted on the first end portion of the beam, each arm beingfree to pivot between a stowed position and a carrying position forsecuring and carrying a bicycle, wherein the first arm pivotsapproximately 180 degrees from its stowed position to its carryingposition in which the first arm cradles a bottom portion of a bicyclewheel, and the second arm pivots from its stowed position to itscarrying position in which the second arm grips an upper portion of thebicycle wheel cradled by the first arm.
 5. The bicycle rack of claim 4,further comprising a wheel securing device attached to the second endportion of the beam.
 6. The bicycle rack of claim 5, wherein the wheelsecuring device includes a wheel cup pivotally mounted relative to thebeam, and a strap for holding a bicycle wheel in the wheel cup.
 7. Thebicycle rack of claim 4, wherein the first arm is a hoop.
 8. The bicyclerack of claim 4, wherein the first arm is symmetrical relative to thelongitudinal axis of the beam.
 9. The bicycle rack of claim 4, whereinthe first and second arms pivot around the same axis.
 10. The bicyclerack of claim 4, wherein the first arm pivots from its stowed positionin which the first arm is substantially folded back on the beam, to itscarrying position in which the first arm is extended to a maximumdistance away from the second end portion of the beam.
 11. A bicyclerack comprising a beam having a first end portion and a second endportion, a central longitudinal axis extending from the first endportion to the second end potion, and a first arm and a second arm, eacharm being pivotally mounted on the first end portion of the beam, eacharm being free to pivot between a stowed position and a carryingposition for securing and carrying a bicycle, wherein the first armpivots from a stowed position in which the first arm is substantiallyfolded back on the beam directed toward the second end portion of thebeam, to its carrying position in which the first arm is extended beyondthe first end portion of the beam and directed a maximum distance awayfrom the second end portion of the beam.
 12. The bicycle rack of claim11, wherein the first arm pivots approximately 180 degrees from itsstowed position to its carrying position.
 13. The bicycle rack of claim11, wherein the first and second arms pivot around the same axis. 14.The bicycle rack of claim 11, wherein the first arm is hoop shaped forcradling a bottom portion of a bicycle wheel.
 15. The bicycle rack ofclaim 11, wherein the first arm is symmetrical relative to the centrallongitudinal axis of the beam.
 16. The bicycle rack of claim 11, whereinthe second arm has a sliding hook member for gripping a bicycle wheel.